Nut-lock.



ROBERT H. BOWMAN, OF CANON CITY, COLORADO.

NUT-Loox.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 1908.

Application filed October 15, 1907. Serial No. 397,512.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. BowMAN, residing at Canon City, in thecounty of Fremont and State of Colorado, have invented a new andImproved Nut-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

My invention seeks to provide an improved nut lock, of that type moreespecially adapted for use on vehicle wheel axles, of a simple andinexpensive construction, which can be readily applied for positivelyholding the axle nut in proper place and which can be quickly adjustedto admit of the removal of the nut when necessary.

With the above and other objects in view, which will hereinafter appear,my invention consists of certain details of construction and novelcombinations of parts, all of which Will be fully described,specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, of which Figure 1, is a perspective view of myimproved nut lock as a plied for use. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectionof the axle, the nut and the locking devices, taken substantially on theline 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a simi* lar view showing the lockingdevice or detent as partly pushed back to effect the locking of the n utwith the bolt or axle. Fig. 4, is a similar view which illustrates oneway of releasing the detent to permit of unscrewing the nut. Fig. 5, isa view that illustrates another way of releasing the detent or lockingdevice. Fig. 6, is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 on Fig. 2.y Fig. 7, is a detail view of the locking device or detent. Fig. 8, is adetail view of the Athreaded end of the axle. Fig. 9, is a perspectiveview of the rear face of the nut, and the removable washer hereinafterreferred to.

ln the practical construction of my invention, the threaded end a oftheaxle or bolt A has two diametrically disposed longitudinal seats awathat extend backward a suitable distance to provide for the desiredadjustments or home screwing of the nut.

The nut B, which may be of the conventional square or hexagonal externalshape is also key seated at two places, it having a pair of longitudinalseats b b in its internal threaded face which have the same width anddepth as the key seats aa in the axle or bolt. The seats l) b are,however, spaced but one quarter of the distance of the circle of thenut,`or in other words, they are arranged on the quarter instead of onthe half circle, as

are the seats the axle, so that the nut, at each quarter turn on theaxle or bolt, will be in position to be locked on the said axle or boltby the detent or lock devices presently referred to. The seats t b havea depth equal, or slightly greater than the depth of the threads in theaxle andl at their rear end, for a short space, they have a depth abouttwice that of the seats in the axle whereby to form radial recesses b b,which merge with a shallow annular recess b2 in the rear face of thenut, the purpose of which will also presently be explained. i.

So far as described, it will be readily apparent that in fitting the nuton the axle, the said nut will, at each quarter'revolution, be inposition to be locked with the axle, since either of its seats will bein alinement with one of the diametrically o positely disposed key seatsin .the axle, so t at the key or detent, by which the nut is locked tothe axle, can be readily inserted.

The key or detent C consists of an elongated member adapted to bereadily shoved into the space formed by the registering nut and axleseats and it is of a length approximately the thickness of the nut.

The rear upper end of the member C is tapered as at c to give clearancefor the locking end of a spring latch c secured on the upper face of themember C, and having its free end bent up to form a locking lug c2having a slightly beveled locking shoulder o3 for engaging with thelocking shoulders b3 of the nut as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the obj ectof making the latch shoulder c3 slightly beveled being to admit ushingthe key or detent C outward under orce in the manner clearly understoodby reference to Figs. 4 and 5 from which it will be seen that at thefront face and in radial alinement with the seats t t, the nut hasrecesses b4 b4 to permit of inserting a pointedimplement into anaperture c5 in the outer end of the key C, which can be used as a leverfor applying force on the memberC in the direction of the arrow ysuflicient to cause its latch to slip past the shoulders b3. Theaperture c5 `is preferably threaded as shown to receive a screw plug eif desired, see Fig. 2, for aiding in positively holding the member C toits operative position.

Instead of providing the member Cwith an aperture c5 and forming the nutwith the radial recesses, the rear edge of the nut may have apertures wthat communicate with the radial recesses t b to permit of inserting thewire or similar device as shown in Fig. 4, for depressing the latch endof the lock to allow for threading off the nut.

D designates a washer that seats in the annular recess in the rear faceof the nut and which has for its purpose to keep the axle lubricant, oilor grease, from leaking out through the slots or key seats, it alsoserving as a stop for keeping the member C from going back beyond itsproper place.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,the complete construction and the manner of use of my improvement willbe readily understood.

Since the nut can be locked at each quarter turn it follows that aproper adjustment thereof can be readily provided for by simply shovingthe key or detent C, into the registering nut and axle seats, the sameautomatically assumes its locking position, from which when required itcan be easily moved in the manner hereinbefore explained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. The combination with the axle and the nut, each havinglongitudinal key seats adapted to be brought into alinement, the nuthaving radial recesses at the ends of its key seats and an annularrecess on its inner face; of a locking detent adapted to be slid intothe alining axle and nut key seats, said detent including a spring latchhaving ,a locking lug adapted to extend up into the radial recess at theends of the nut key seats and a washer that seats in the annular recesson the nut for the purposes stated.

2. The combination of the axle and the nut, each having longitudinal keyseats adapted to be brought into alinement, the nut having radialrecesses at the inner ends of the seats and radial notches on its frontface extending from the said seats, the nut having apertures that extenddown to the radial recess 3 with the locking detent C having the innerend of its upper face downwardly beveled, a spring latch secured to itsupper face having an upturned locking lug projected over the saidbeveled end, said lug having a beveled shoulder, and the detent havingan aperture at its outer end, all being arranged substantially as shownand described.

ROBERT H. BOWMAN.

Vitnesses:

H. R. INQUoM, THos. H. LOGAN.

